Systems and methods for processing customer purchase transactions using biometric data

ABSTRACT

A system and method is provided for processing customer purchase transactions using biometric data. Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a processing entity receives biometric data of a customer, wherein the biometric data is unique to the customer. The processing entity may additionally receive transaction data, the transaction data reflecting the price of a purchase transaction by the customer. The processing entity may compare the received biometric data to stored biometric data associated with customers of a financial service provider and identify common biometric data. Additionally, the processing entity may correlate the common biometric data to a customer account associated with the financial service provider, compare the customer account associated with the financial service provider with the transaction data, and verify the customer account associated with the financial service provider contains adequate funds. Furthermore, the processing entity may authorize the purchase transaction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/752,266, filed on Jan. 14, 2013, which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirely.

FIELD

The disclosed embodiments generally relate to processing consumertransactions and, more specifically, processing consumer transactionsbased on biometric data.

BACKGROUND

A biometric identifier is a unique physical or behavioral characteristicthat can be used as a means of verifying personal identity such as, forexample, a fingerprint or an iris scan. Suitable biometric identifiersfor personal identification are typically universal, unique, permanent,and measurable. A system relying on biometrics can require a user toprovide a single biometric identifier or multiple biometric identifiers,improving the accuracy of the identification.

Biometrics may be used as a form of personal identification associatedwith financial transactions. Convenience and security are advantages ofbiometric identifiers in such applications. Biometric identification,however, can be spoofed.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide robust, reliable, and securemethods and systems for processing customer purchase transactions usingbiometric identifiers.

SUMMARY

Consistent with disclosed embodiments, systems and methods are providedfor using biometric data to processes a customer purchase transaction.For example, disclosed embodiments may allow a customer to reveal one ormore unique and measurable biometric characteristics of that customerwhen making a purchase transaction in place of using a credit/debit cardor cash. In some embodiments, instead of swiping a credit card whenmaking a transaction, a customer may be asked to provide one or morepieces of biometric data (e.g., fingerprint, eye scan). The saletransaction may be complete once the information is provided andconfirmed. In some disclosed embodiments, the customer may no longer berequired to carry credit/debit cards or cash in order to make a purchaseat a merchant.

Although disclosed embodiments are discussed primarily in the context ofprocessing customer purchase transactions, other applications arecontemplated. For example, disclosed embodiments may allow forprotection against fraudulent transactions.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and,together with the description, serve to explain the disclosedembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system for processing a customerpurchase transaction using biometric data consistent with disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary system for processing a customerpurchase transaction using biometric data consistent with disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for processing acustomer purchase transaction using biometric data consistent withdisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for receivingbiometric data associated with a purchase transaction consistent withdisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for correlatingreceived biometric data to a customer account consistent with disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for authorizing thepurchase transaction consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for sendingtransaction information associated with the purchase transaction to afinancial service provider consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of another exemplary method for processing acustomer purchase transaction using biometric data consistent withdisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 9 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for receiving purchasetransaction information consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method processing thepurchase transaction consistent with disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the disclosed embodiments,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverconvenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system 100 for processingpurchase transactions using biometric data. The components andarrangement of the components described in FIG. 1 may vary. Furthermore,system 100 may additionally include any other entity or source ofinformation associated with a purchase transaction. System 100 mayinclude a network 110, financial service provider 120, merchant(s) 130,customer(s) 140, and processing entity 150.

Network 110 may be any type of network configured to providecommunications between components of FIG. 1. For example, network 100may be any type of network (including infrastructure) that providescommunications, exchanges information, and/or facilitates the exchangeof information, such as the Internet, a Local Area Network, or othersuitable connection(s) that enables system 100 to send and receiveinformation between the components of system 100.

Financial service provider 120 may be a system that is associated with afinancial service provider that provides and/or manages financialservice accounts, such as a bank, credit card company, brokerage firm,etc. In some embodiments, financial service provider 120 may include oneor more computing systems that are located at a central location or mayinclude computing devices that are distributed (locally or remotely).

A financial service provider associated with financial service provider120 may provide different financial service products for customers. Insome aspects, the financial service provider may provide and/or manage acustomer's financial service account. Financial service accounts mayinclude, for example, credit card accounts, checking accounts, savingsaccounts, loans, investment accounts, and the like. The financialservice provider may employ one or more computing systems, includingfinancial service provider 120, to execute instructions that monitorcustomer purchasing transactions associated with the financial serviceaccounts.

Merchant 130 may be a system that is associated with one or moreentities that sells products and/or services to customers 140. Forexample, the merchant may include a physical location (brick and mortarlocation) and/or may sell the products/services using known e-commercemechanisms, such as over the Internet. For instance, the merchant mayinclude department stores, retail shops, grocery stores, pharmacystores, and specialty stores. The merchant may use one or more computingsystems, including merchant 130, to provide and manage one or morewebsites or mobile applications that sell products and/or services.

Processing entity 150 may be a system that is associated with one ormore entities associated with financial service provider 120.Specifically, processing entity 150 may provide infrastructure tofinancial service providers in issuing and processing purchasetransactions and/or financial service accounts associated with financialservice provider 120. For example, processing entity 150 may include adata repository 256 (see FIG. 2) that maintains customer information andcustomer purchase transaction information for each customer associatedwith financial service provider 120. In some embodiments, processingentity may be an integrated component of one or more components ofsystem 100, including financial service provider 120.

In some embodiments, processing entity 150 or other components of system100 may include one or more processor(s) and memory device(s) thatenable software instructions to be executed to perform operationsconsistent with disclosed embodiments. In one example, processing entity150 may include a server that is configured to execute softwareinstructions stored in one or more memory devices to perform one or moreoperations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. FIG. 2 shows anexemplary system that may be associated with processing entity 150. Insome embodiments, the system includes a server 250 having one or moreprocessors 251, one or more memories 253, and one or more input/output(I/O) devices 252. Server 250 may take the form of a general purposecomputer, a mainframe computer, or any combination of these components.Server 250 may be standalone, or it may be part of a subsystem, whichmay be part of a larger system.

Customer 140 may include one or more customers associated with financialservice accounts of financial service provider 120. Customer 140 maypossess several biometric characteristic genetically unique to eachcustomer. Customer 140 may communicate with other components of system100 using any suitable computer device, such as client device 160.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 300 of an exemplary method for processing acustomer purchase transaction using biometric data, consistent withdisclosed embodiments. In step 310, processing entity 150 may receivebiometric data associated with a purchase transaction. The biometricdata may be received, for example, from merchant 130 with a request toprocess a purchase transaction. In other embodiments, processing entity150 may received the biometric data from another source and/or entity(for example, directly from customer 140 through client device 160). Thebiometric data may reflect measurable characteristics unique to eachperson that remain constant over time. A more detailed discussion isprovided below regarding the receiving biometric data (with respect toFIG. 4).

Server 250 may also correlate the received biometric data to a customeraccount (step 320). The customer account may include a financial serviceaccount of customer 140 associated with financial service provider 120.As a non-limiting example, server 250 may compare the received biometricdata with stored biometric data to identify a customer accountassociated with the stored biometric data. According to someembodiments, server 250 may have previously received the storedbiometric data from customers associated with financial service provider120. In other embodiments, server 250 may request biometric data for aparticular customer from another component of system 100 based on otherdata associated with the purchase transaction. In still otherembodiments, customer 140 may later provide server 250 with biometricsamples for subsequent confirmation/correlation. A more detaileddiscussion is provided below regarding the correlating of biometric datato a customer account (see FIG. 5).

In some aspects, server 250 may authorize the purchase transaction basedon the correlation of biometric data to a financial service account ofcustomer 140 (step 330). For example, server 250 may compare transactiondata with the customer account associated with financial serviceprovider 120 and verify the customer account contains adequate funds tocomplete the transaction. Additionally, server 250 may verify thepurchase transaction is not fraudulent based on the received biometricdata. A more detailed discussion is provided below regarding authorizingthe purchase transaction (see FIG. 6).

Server 250, in step 340, may send transaction information associatedwith the purchase transaction to financial service provider 120.Specifically, server 250 may send customer account information,transaction data, and authorization information to financial serviceprovider 120. Financial service provider 120 may use the receivedtransaction information in order to, for example, update customeraccount balances or provide additional fraud detection. A more detaileddiscussion is provided below regarding sending transaction informationto financial service provider 120 (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for receivingbiometric data associated with a purchase transaction consistent withdisclosed embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4, processing entity 150 maycreate a partnership with merchant 150. For example, the two entitiesmay agree to allow customer 140 to purchase service/products frommerchant 130 through processing entity 150 (step 410). In someembodiments, server 250 may receive an authorization from financialservice provider to process purchase transactions associated withcustomer 140. For instance, processing entity 150 may provide paymentoptions or terminals to merchant 150 that allows customer 140 to requestpurchase transactions. The payment terminals may be accessible tocustomer 140 at a physical location or through internet 110. Forexample, customer 140 may access the payment terminals through theinternet using client device 160.

Server 250 may also determine which biometric data to request fromcustomer 140 when making a purchase transaction (step 420). Thebiometric data may include data regarding customer characteristicsidentified from voice recognition, iris eye scan, fingerprint, palmprint, walking gait, facial recognition, DNA swab, or the like. Server250 may request one or more biometric data characteristics for use inprocessing purchase transactions. For example, server 250 may selectthree characteristics to request from each customer 140 when making apurchase transaction. The characteristics may be randomly selectedbefore or during the purchase transaction to prevent fraudulenttransactions. In other embodiments, financial service provider 120,customer 140, or any other component of system 100 may select whichcharacteristics to provide server 250.

Additionally or alternatively, server 250 may require customer 140 toperform one or more actions associated with biometric data when making apurchase transaction. For example, server 250 may require customer 140to smile, look up or down, look to the left or right, raise eyebrows,etc when providing the selected biometric data. In some embodiments,server 250 may require customer 140 to say a particular phrase, providea fingerprint of a specific finger or set of fingers, and/or roll theirfingers in a particular way. Such actions may also be determinedrandomly for each purchase transaction to prevent fraudulenttransactions. Alternatively, the actions may be similar to previousrequests from server 250, for example requests when customer 140initially obtained the financial service account and provided thebiometric information.

In step 430, server 250 may receive the requested biometric dataassociated with a purchase transaction. For example, server 250 mayinclude devices capable of receiving and analyzing a customer's voice,iris eye scan, fingerprint, palm print, walking gait, facialrecognition, DNA swab, or any other biometric data capable of beingassociated with customer 140. In exemplary embodiments, a paymentterminal associated with processing entity 150 may be capable ofreceiving and/or analyzing the biometric data. For example, server 250may be communicatively associated with a payment terminal having a videodevice capable of scanning an iris and/or capturing a voice recording ofcustomer 140. Server 250 may further process this biometric data todetermine recognizable features unique to that customer (e.g., irispattern, syllable pronunciation, etc.).

Furthermore, server 250 may receive transaction data associated with thepurchase transaction by customer 140 (step 440). The transaction datamay include, for example, the purchase price, time and data of thetransaction, product/service identification (e.g., SKU number), andmerchant identification (e.g., merchant identification number). Server250 may receive the transaction data substantially simultaneously asserver 250 receives the biometric data. In other embodiments, server 250may receive the transaction data and biometric data separately, bydifferent means, and/or at different times.

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for correlatingreceived biometric data to a customer account consistent with disclosedembodiments. In some aspects, server 250 may correlate the receivedbiometric data to a customer account associated with customer 140 andfinancial service provider 120. For example, server 250 may receive anindication that financial service provider 140 and merchant 130 haveformed a partnership (step 510). In some embodiments, the two entitiesmay agree to share customer transaction information for customersassociated with financial service provider 120 and purchase transactionsassociated with merchant 130. For example, server 250 may share purchasetransaction information with financial service provider 120 whencustomer 140, associated with financial service provider 120, makes apurchase transaction at merchant 130.

Server 250 may compare the received biometric data from customer 140with stored biometric data, as shown in step 520. The stored biometricdata may represent previously received biometric data for customers offinancial service provider 120. Such stored biometric data may includeone or more of the biometric characteristics (e.g., voice recognition,iris eye scan, fingerprint, palm print, walking gait, facialrecognition, DNA swab, and the like). Server 250 may compile the storedbiometric data into searchable databases. The stored biometric data maybe linked to one or more customer accounts associated with financialservice provider 120.

Server 250 may compare the received biometric data and stored biometricdata to identify common biometric data (step 530). For example, server250 may search the stored biometric databases for biometric dataconsidered substantially similar to the received biometric data toidentify common biometric data. If server 250 received more than onepiece of biometric data (e.g., an iris scan, voice recognition, andfingerprint), server 250 may begin the search by searching storedinformation for the first piece of biometric data (i.e., iris scan)until server 250 identifies common biometric data associated with theiris scan. Server 250 may initially determine which received biometricdata is the most accurate and/or secure and begin the search with thisdata. Alternatively, server 250 may begin the search with receivedbiometric data that is less accurate and/or secure to reduce the amountof data to be searched. Server 250 may continue the search using all oronly a subset of the received biometric data. For example, a search ofthe additional biometric data may initially be confined to biometricdata associated with the customer for which the iris scan is associated.Each search may be tailored accordingly to maximize efficiency.

Additionally or alternatively, server 250 may be configured to determinea confidence value related to the common biometric data. For example,server 250 may use the first piece of biometric data (i.e., iris scan)to identify common biometric data. Server 250 may assign a confidencevalue to this common biometric data. If the confidence value meets apredetermined threshold amount, server 250 may identify this commonbiometric data as the common biometric data used to identify a customeraccount. If the confidence value fails to meet the predeterminedthreshold amount, server 250 may additionally use the second piece ofbiometric data (i.e., voice recognition) to identify common biometricdata. Server 250 may also assign this second piece of biometric data aconfidence value. If the confidence values associated with the first andsecond pieces of biometric data together meet the predeterminedthreshold amount, server 250 may use both common biometric data toidentify a customer account. If the predetermined threshold amount hasnot been met, server 250 may continue to use all the received biometricdata until the cumulative common biometric data meets the predeterminedthreshold amount. If the predetermined threshold amount cannot be met,server 250 may determine that the purchase transaction should not becompleted. In step 540, server 250 may identify a customer accountassociated with the biometric data determined to be in common with thestored biometric data. The customer account may represent a financialservice account associated with financial service provider 120, forexample, a credit card account, checking account, savings account, loan,investment account, or the like. Server 250 may link the common data tothe customer account using an account number, customer social securitynumber, and/or any other identifier.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for authorizing thepurchase transaction consistent with disclosed embodiments. As shown inFIG. 6, server 250 may authorize the purchase transaction based on thereceived transaction data and identified customer account. For example,server 250 may compare the purchase price indicated in the receivedpurchase transaction data with the available funds associated thecustomer account (step 610). Thus, server 250 may verify the customeraccount contains adequate funds to complete the purchase transaction(step 620). In exemplary embodiments, server 250 may complete eachverification substantially simultaneously with the completion of thepurchase transaction. In other embodiments, server 250 may complete allverifications at the end of a day, week, month, etc.

It is further contemplated that server 250 may verify the transaction isnot fraudulent, as shown in step 630. Server 250 may rate each biometricdata characteristic according to its vulnerability to fraud. Forexample, server 250 may employ a numerical rating system to indicatevulnerability to fraud. In some embodiments, server 250 may ratefingerprint analysis as a 2, while facial recognition is rated a 3, withhigher values indicating that the biometric data is less susceptible tofraud. Server 250 may then determine if the biometric data used to findcommon biometric data passes a predetermined threshold based on therating. For example, server 250 may determine if the biometric datapasses a threshold amount of 5, such that either fingerprint analysis orfacial recognition alone would not pass the threshold but the twotogether would.

Additionally or alternatively, server 250 may rate each receivedbiometric data according to how well server 250 is able to match theunique characteristics found in the biometric data. For example, server250 may only be able to partially ascertain a first customer'sfingerprint analysis due to a partial print or smearing. Server 250 may,however, be able to fully ascertain a second customer's fingerprintanalysis. Server 250 may rate the second customer's fingerprint analysisas less susceptible to fraud than the first customer's, such that onlythe second customer's meets a predetermined threshold amount.

At step 640, server 250 may authorize the purchase transaction withmerchant 130 and allow customer 140 to use the customer account topurchase the product/service. In exemplary embodiments, server 250 mayonly authorize purchase transactions where the biometric data passes oneor more predetermined thresholds.

In other aspects, financial service provider 120 may include one or moredevices capable of receiving the biometric data and comparing it tostored biometric data. Therefore, financial service provider 120 mayidentify common biometric data and link the common biometric data to acustomer account associated with financial service provider 120.Financial service provider 120 may further verify the customer accountcontains adequate funds and authorize the transaction with merchant 130.

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for sendingtransaction information associated with the purchase transaction to afinancial service provider consistent with disclosed embodiments. Insome embodiments, server 250 may send customer account information,transaction data, and/or authorization information associated with thepurchase transaction to financial service provider 120. For example, insome embodiments, server 250 may send customer account information (step710). The customer account information may include the account number ofa financial service account associated with financial service provider120. Additionally or alternatively, the customer account information mayinclude a customer's social security number or a unique identifierassociated with the financial service account. In step 720, server 250may send all transaction data (e.g., purchase price, time and data ofthe transaction, product/service identification, and merchantidentification) or only selected data. For example, server 250 may sendonly the purchase price and time and date of the transaction tofinancial service provider 120. Furthermore, the authorizationinformation may include verification that the biometric data used tofind the common biometric data was not fraudulently created (step 730).

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram 800 of an exemplary method for receiving acustomer purchase transaction using biometric data, consistent withdisclosed embodiments. In step 810, financial service provider 120 mayreceive purchase transaction information from one or more components ofsystem 100. Such information may include, for example, customer accountinformation, transaction data, and authorization information. In step820, financial service provider 120 may process the purchasetransaction. For example, financial service provider 120 may locate thecustomer account associated with the customer account information,deduct the purchase amount from the customer account, and notify thecustomer of this deduction. A more detailed discussion is provided below(with respect to FIG. 10) regarding sending purchase transactioninformation to financial service provider 120.

FIG. 9 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for receiving purchasetransaction information consistent with disclosed embodiments. In someembodiments, financial service provider 120 may receive purchasetransaction information from processing entity 150. The purchasetransaction information may reflect a purchase from customer 140 atmerchant 130 using biometric data. Financial service provider, as shownin step 910, may receive customer account information associated with afinancial service account provided by financial service provider 120.The account information may include the account number of a financialservice account associated with financial service provider 120.Additionally or alternatively, the customer account information mayinclude a customer's social security number or a unique identifierassociated with the financial service account.

Financial service provider 120 may additionally receive transaction dataassociated with the purchase transaction (step 920). The transactiondata may include purchase price, time and data of the transaction,product/service identification, and/or merchant identification,including any combination of this data. For example, financial serviceprovider may receive only the purchase price and time and date of thetransaction. Furthermore, as shown in step 930, financial serviceprovider 120 may receive authorization information verifying thebiometric data used to find the common biometric data was notfraudulently created.

FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method processing thepurchase transaction consistent with disclosed embodiments. As shown inFIG. 10, financial service provider 120 may process the purchasetransaction. Financial service provider 120 may locate the customeraccount associated with the received customer account information (step1010). The customer account may include a financial service accountincluding, for example, credit card accounts, checking accounts, savingsaccounts, loans, investment accounts. Financial service provider 120 mayadditionally deduct the purchase price from the customer account, asshown in step 1020. In some embodiments, as shown in step 1030,financial service provider may further notify customer 140 of thededuction. For example, financial service provider 120 may provide anotification in the form of an electronic message or document (e.g.,email, link to a website, SMS message, business software mechanisms(ERP, CRM, etc.). In some embodiments, financial service provider mayprovide the notification in the form of a bank statement.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the disclosedembodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An apparatus, comprising: one or more storagedevices storing a set of instructions and user biometric data; and atleast one processor coupled to the one or more storage devicesconfigured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:receiving, from a financial service provider, an authorization toprocess transactions using biometric data, the authorization comprisingrequired biometric data to process transactions; receiving, from aclient device, client biometric data to process a transaction, theclient biometric data corresponding to the required biometric data;comparing the client biometric data with the stored user biometric data;generating a confidence value based on the comparison; identifying, whenthe confidence value meets a threshold value, a customer accountassociated with the client biometric data, the customer accountrepresenting a financial service account associated with the financialservice provider; and sending, to the financial service provider:account information of the identified customer account, the accountinformation comprising a unique identifier associated with theidentified financial service account; and data for the transaction. 22.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein sending the customer accountinformation comprises sending a verification notice when the confidencevalue meets the threshold value, the verification notice indicating thatthe client biometric data was not fraudulently created.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise:receiving, from the financial service provider, a transactionauthorization verifying that the customer account has adequate fundsavailable.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein operations furthercomprise: notifying the client device of a deduction when thetransaction authorization verifies the availability of adequate funds.25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the data for the transactioncomprises purchase price, purchase time and date, productidentification, and merchant identification.
 26. The apparatus of claim21, wherein operations further comprise: providing, to the clientdevice, an indication the purchase transaction cannot be completed whenthe confidence value does not meet the threshold value.
 27. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the required client biometric datacomprises a plurality of characteristics; the confidence value is afirst confidence value; and the operations further comprise: when theconfidence value does not meet the threshold value: comparing a secondbiometric characteristic with the stored user biometric data; generatinga second confidence value based on the second comparison; anddetermining whether an aggregated confidence value meets the thresholdvalue.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the aggregated confidencevalue comprises a sum of the second confidence value and the firstconfidence value.
 29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein data for thetransaction comprises transaction amount and transaction time only. 30.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the required biometric data comprisesthree characteristics randomly selected from a group of characteristics,the group comprising voice recognition, iris eye scan, fingerprint, palmprint, and facial recognition.
 31. The apparatus of claim 21, whereinthe required biometric data comprises biometric actions performed by anoperator of the client device.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31, whereinthe biometric actions comprise providing one of a fingerprint of aspecific finger, finger prints of a plurality of fingers, orfingerprints of fingers rolled in a specified manner.
 33. The apparatusof claim 21, wherein: the client device comprises a video deviceconfigured to recognize facial expressions; and the required biometricdata comprises a biometric action performed by an operator of the clientdevice, the biometric action comprising at least one of smiling, lookingup, or raising eyebrows.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein: thevideo device is configured to receive voice signals; and the biometricaction further includes saying a specified phrase.
 35. The apparatus ofclaim 21, wherein comparing the client biometric data with stored userbiometric data comprises retrieving stored biometric data from asearchable database.
 36. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein notifying theclient device of a deduction comprises sending at least one of an emailor an SMS message.
 37. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the operationsfurther comprise receiving an indication that the financial serviceprovider formed a partnership with a group of merchants, and the clientdevice is associated with a merchant from the group of merchants.
 38. Acomputer-implemented method comprising the following operationsperformed by at least one processor: receiving, from a financial serviceprovider, an authorization to process transactions using biometric data,the authorization comprising required biometric data to processtransactions; receiving, from a client device, client biometric data toprocess a transaction, the client biometric data corresponding to therequired biometric data; comparing the client biometric data with thestored user biometric data; generating a confidence value based on thecomparison; identifying, when the confidence value meets a thresholdvalue, a customer account associated with the client biometric data, thecustomer account representing a financial service account associatedwith the financial service provider; and sending, to the financialservice provider: account information of the identified customeraccount, the account information comprising a unique identifierassociated with the identified financial service account; and data forthe transaction.
 39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium thatstores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causethe at least one processor to: receive, from a financial serviceprovider, an authorization to process transactions using biometric data,the authorization comprising required biometric data to processtransactions; receive, from a client device, client biometric data toprocess a transaction, the client biometric data corresponding to therequired biometric data; compare the client biometric data with thestored user biometric data; generate a confidence value based on thecomparison; identify, when the confidence value meets a threshold value,a customer account associated with the client biometric data, thecustomer account representing a financial service account associatedwith the financial service provider; and send, to the financial serviceprovider: account information of the identified customer account, theaccount information comprising a unique identifier associated with theidentified financial service account; and data for the transaction.